‘Power production increased as compared to 2013’

Punjab CM   says thousands of megawatt electricity will be produced as energy projects are nearing completion; Wapda chairman says 2,485MW hydropower projects will be completed in mid of 2018

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Rs112 billion have been saved from gas-based power projects and as compared to 2013, today electricity production has increased.Wapda Chairman Lieutenant-General (retd) Muzammil Hussain called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here on Sunday.

Talking on the occasion, the chief minister said that completion of energy projects on early basis is our priority. The fast-track work is being done on energy projects all over Pakistan, including Punjab. During the last four years, endless efforts have been made to increase electricity production and today many of the energy projects are near completion and once they are completed thousands of megawatt electricity will be produced.

The chief minister said that 3,600 megawatt gas power projects in Punjab would be completed in record time period. The present government has ensured transparency and high quality in all the projects, he added.

On this occasion, while briefing the chief minister on the development of water and hydropower resources, Wapda Chairman Lieutenant-General Muzammil Hussain (R) said that 2,485 megawatt hydropower projects would be completed in the mid of 2018 and for this purpose three dimensional strategy has been presented.

Completion of under-construction projects on early basis, initiation of construction work on new projects in short period of time and once again transforming Wapda into an active and dynamic organisation are three important factors of this strategy. He said that from the last seven months work has been carried out on this strategy with determination. The projects include Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, Tarbela Fourth Extension Hydropower Project and Golen Gol Hydropower Project. Besides, Phase I of the Kachhi Canal Project would also be completed by the end of 2017, which would irrigate 72,000 acre land in District Dera Bugti of Balochistan. The construction work on Kurram Tangi Dam Project has been started last month.

The contract of Canal Khwar Hydropower project has reached the site for initiating the construction work and the main civil works of Dasu Hydropower Project has been awarded and construction work on this project would be initiated the next month.

He said that Wapda is trying hard to award the contract of main civil works of Mohmand Dam and Diamer-Bhasha Dam by the end of December 2017.